Madness

• The 2026 March Madness men's tournament Sweet 16 begins Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, with games at four regional sites: Houston (South), San Jose (West), Chicago (Midwest), and Washington D.C. (East). • The Elite Eight follows Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, setting up the Final Four in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4 and 6, with the championship game on Monday, April 6. • The tournament features 16 teams advancing from the first and second rounds, competing for the right to advance through regionals to the national semifinals and title game.

• No. 9 seed Iowa defeated defending national champion Florida 73-72 in Sunday's second round, ending the Gators' title repeat hopes with a stunning upset victory. • Iowa shot over 70% from 2-point range, a feat no team had accomplished against coach Todd Golden in his 144-game tenure at Florida, showcasing elite offensive execution. • Florida's interior defense, typically one of the nation's best, was overwhelmed, though Alex Condon contributed 21 points; Iowa's balanced attack proved too much in a tight final possession.

• The second round of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament wrapped on March 22 across sites including Oklahoma City, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, Portland, and St. Louis. • Notable action included a potential buzzer-beater rimming out in Nebraska-Vanderbilt's frantic finish, heightening bracket drama. • Sweet 16 games begin Thursday, March 26, leading to regionals in Houston, San Jose, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., with Final Four on April 4-6 in Indianapolis.

• Second round games occur on March 21 at sites including Oklahoma City, Portland, and St. Louis, following first round action. • Kentucky secured an overtime win with Otega Oweh scoring 35 points and hitting an epic buzzer-beater, advancing in the tournament. • The schedule progresses to Sweet 16 on March 26-27, with regionals in Houston, San Jose, and Chicago hosting later stages.

• No. 1 South Carolina faces No. 16 Southern at 1 p.m. ET on ABC, while No. 1 UConn plays No. 16 UTSA at 3 p.m. ET in the Women's NCAA Tournament first round. • No. 2 Iowa takes on No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2. • These games mark the start of bracket action across multiple sites, with CBS Sports providing live updates and highlights throughout Saturday.

• The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament entered its first round on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, with games hosted across multiple venues including Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Portland. • First-round matchups are scheduled for March 19 and 21 in Oklahoma City and Portland, while March 20 and 22 games take place in Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis, with teams competing for advancement to the second round. • The tournament follows Selection Sunday on March 15, with the First Four play-in games held on March 17-18, setting the stage for the 68-team competition.

• 2026 NCAA Men's March Madness First Four games occurred on March 17-18 following team selections on March 15, with first round set for March 19-20. • Regionals include Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, and Philadelphia for early rounds; East Regional in Washington, D.C., Final Four April 4-6 in Indianapolis. • Tournament progresses to championship on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium, drawing massive national attention.

• Arizona enters the tournament as a major contender, having recorded wins over powerhouse programs Florida, UConn, Alabama, Houston, and Kansas during the regular season. • The Wildcats are pursuing the West Coast's first national championship since 1997, leveraging their dominant schedule and tournament experience. • Arizona's offensive firepower and tournament pedigree position them among the favorites to compete for the national title.

• UConn enters the women's NCAA tournament as an unbeaten No. 1 seed after winning the SEC Tournament title, defeating South Carolina in the championship game. • UTSA drew the No. 16 seed and faces the undefeated Huskies in a first-round matchup, looking to pull off a historic upset. • UConn's perfect record and top seeding position them as heavy favorites to compete for the national championship.

• Miami (Ohio) enters Selection Sunday with a 31-1 record, posing the biggest question for the NCAA Tournament committee on March 15, 2026. • Their single loss contrasts sharply with bubble teams like Auburn (17-16), which boasts top metrics but recent struggles, including nine losses in their last 12 games. • A Dayton win over VCU in the Atlantic 10 title game could eliminate one bubble spot, heightening competition for teams like SMU, San Diego State, Stanford, and Indiana.

• NCAA Men's Tournament bracket reveal airs March 15 at 6 p.m. CBS, following conference title games. • First Four games begin March 17-18; First Round March 19-20, culminating in Final Four April 4-6 at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. • 11 automatic bids awarded March 14 via conference tournaments; at-large selections finalize field of 68.

Sports betting on March Madness 2026 games has surged 35% year-over-year, driven by expanded legal markets in 38 states, but experts warn of risks to underage bettors. NCAA reported over $2.5 billion in wagers during opening rounds, with a 25% increase among 18-24-year-olds. 'We're seeing addiction signs in college students,' said researcher Dr. Lia Nower. Regulators urge stricter age verification as tournaments progress to semifinals.

March Madness 2026 drives a massive increase in sports betting, considered the tournament's 'Super Bowl' alongside the NFL championship, with numerous games fueling wagers across U.S. platforms. While most states set the betting age at 21, a Wall Street Journal op-ed highlighted Gen Z college students facing addiction risks from gamified apps blurring entertainment and financial peril. Sportsbooks sponsor 87 teams in NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, while restricting consistent winners but rewarding VIP losers who generate 60-70% of revenue despite being 2-3% of bettors. Regulators in states like New York address these practices as tournaments peak.

Multiple college basketball conference tournaments advanced to quarterfinals and semifinals on Friday, including Southeastern Tournament matchups like TBD vs. Florida in Nashville at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Big Ten Tournament saw TBD vs. Illinois in Chicago, while Atlantic 10 featured Dayton and VCU games in Pittsburgh. These results determine automatic NCAA bids amid surging betting interest, with the American Gaming Association noting 73.6% of wagers from legal-age adults. Selection Sunday approaches on March 15, heightening stakes for bubble teams.